Appliance for the treatment of the spine



June 26, 1951 E. SCHINMAN 2,558,105

APPLIANCE FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE SPINE Filed June 30, 1949 INVIENTOR. Edmund Sch/nman AI/omey Patented June 26, 1951 OFFICE APPLIANCE FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE SPINE Edmund Schlnman, San Francisco, Calif.

Application June 30, 1949, Serial No. 102,415

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improved device for treating the human spine and has particular reference to a specially constructed appliance conforming in shape to the curvature of the spine and is adapted to impart movement to the nerves thereof for placing the same back in their correct normal positions.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an elongated tubular like flexible member having an elongated fiat heating element therein and further providing a series of coil springs capable of resiliently pressing the said flexible member against the spine.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a plate beneath the coil springs for supporting the same.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a soft flexible material within the device to provide a cushion therein.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device for treating the spine of the character describedthat is durable, simple in construction, economical to manufacture and highly efiiecient and serviceable in use.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, wherein for the purpose of illustration, like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a central horizontal sectional view of the improved device for treating the spine,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the use of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the heating element embodied in the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing and the numerals thereof, the numeral 5 designates the casing embodying the structure of the invention, which casing is preferably substantially circular in shape and is mounted on an elongated plate 6 as disclosed to advantage in Figs. 1 and 2. The said casing is secured to the plate by a plurality of rivets l or in any other suitable manner. A suitable heating element 8, preferably formed of an insulated flat strip of metal 9 is provided within the casing and is electrically connected to the conductors l and l l. A switch 12 and rheostat I3 is provided for controlling the heating element. A plurality of insulated coil springs 14 are secured to the plate and compressed against the heating element as disclosed to advantage in Fig. 1, providing a resilient medium for retaining the casing in the uppermost position. A pair of pull coil springs I and [6 are secured to the ends of the casing and the upwardly extending angular members I! and I8 are fixed to the said plate for retaining the casing in a stretched position. A soft flexible material I9 of any suitable type is stuffed in the said casing to form a cushion in the same, while an elongated coil spring 25 is compressed between the ends and I8.

The fiat strip of metal 9 can be formed of a plurality of elongated curved pieces if desired and the inner end portions thereof slidably mounted in suitable clasps 21 as disclosed to advantage in Figs. 1 and 4, whereby the said element 9 will be adjustable as to length when pressure from the body of a patient is put on the casing 5.

In the operation of the device the patient is positioned on the casing 5 as disclosed to advantage in Fig. 3. The clasps 21 together with the resiliently controlled slidable angular members l1 and 18 connected to the extremities of the casing allow for expansion and contraction when the patient rests on the device; The circular formation of the casing as shown in Fig. 2 enables the same to press directly on the spinal column alone and contacts no other portion of the back or shoulder blades. By inserting the electric plug shown in Fig. 1 in a conventional electric socket and closing switch 12 electrical energy will be supplied to the electric heating medium 9 within the casing 5, heating the same, thus conveying heat directly to the spinal column of the patient.

From the foregoing description taken in consideration with the accompanying drawing it will be readily observed that the device will not only directly heat the spine but will urge the nerves in proximity thereto back to their correct normal positions.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relatives to the shape, size, material and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

An appliance for use in the treatment of the spine, comprising an elongated flat base member, an upwardly extending member on each outer end portion thereof, a pair of inwardly extending angle members slidably mounted on said base and spaced inwardly from the upwardly extending end members, each of the said angle members vertically projecting upwardly above the said end members on the base, an elongated upwardly curved circular flexible casing positioned between said angle members and fixed thereto, a soft cushioning material mounted within the said casing, a series of coil springs mounted on the base member and compressed against the casing for resiliently pressing the casing against the spine of the user, means for retaining the casing in a resilient stretched'position, and an electric heating element including a strip of metal extending through said casing.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number EDMUND SCHINMAN.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name I Date Slater et a1. June 2, 1896 Brand Aug. 2, 1932 Curtis Dec. 18, 1934 

